Introduction
Whenever oxidation take places in a system similarly reduction will always takes places in the
system. Redox reaction is the simultaneous process of both reduction and oxidation in the
system. We can say that Chemistry is essentially a study of redox systems.
The term oxidation is named under oxygen is because around ~20% in the atmosphere contains
oxygen and most of the elements are able to combine with it. But oxidation not only undergoes
with oxygen but also with electronegative elements.
Oxidation is defined as the addition of oxygen/electronegative element to a substance or removal
of hydrogen/ electropositive element from a substance.
Let’s see some of the example of oxidation reactions,
for example,
Oxidation Number
Oxidation number or state is a number assigned during chemical reaction depending on the
electrons gained or loosed while in the reaction. The oxidation number could be either positive,
negative or zero.
Rule 1
The oxidation number of an element at its elemental state or present in free the oxidation
number will be always “0”. Which means each atom in O3,H2, Na, Cl2, Mg, etc. will be “0”.
Rule 2
This rule states that the charge of an ion is always equals to its oxidation state. Which means
Mg2+ will be having oxidation state +2, Na+ will be having an oxidation of +1, Cl- is having an
oxidation state of -1. This rule will be applicable to all ions.
Rule 3
The oxidation state of Oxygen will be -2 in almost all cases but there are exceptions in case of
peroxides, superoxides, and oxygen bonded with fluorine.
Rule 4
Almost all cases the oxidation number of Hydrogen is +1 in some exceptions the for instance,
NaH, CaH2, LiH. In all the examples the oxidation state of hydrogen is will be -1.
Rule 5
When halogens are present as halide ions in compound form there will oxidation state will be
always -1, but chlorine, bromine, and iodine while combing with oxygens will be having a +1
oxidation number eg, oxyanions, oxyacids.
Rule 6
metallic elements will have positive oxidation state whereas nonmetallic element will have
negative oxidation state.
Problem
Q1. Find oxidation number of Cr2 in the formula K2Cr2O7 (NCERT)
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The above reaction is a typical example of a redox reaction, in the reaction magnesium (Mg) is
burned in the presence of Oxygen and Magnesium donated two electrons then becomes 2+
whereas oxygen accepted two electrons and become 2-.
Let’s take sodium chloride for explaining the concept. We all know that type of bond between
NaCl are ionic bond, therefore we can write Na+Cl- and (Na+)2 S2-
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Oxidation : Loss of electron(s) of any species
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Here in the above reaction as Zn is more reactive in the metal reactive series therefore Zn release
its electrons first.
Types of Redox Reactions
Redox reactions can be primarily classified into five different types:
• Combination Reactions
• Decomposition Reactions
• Displacement Reactions
• Disproportionate Reactions
Let’s discuss all them,
Combination Reactions
In the method, the reaction involves the breakdown of a compound into different compounds in
the form of AB→A+B
1. 2NaH → 2Na+H2
2. 2H2O → 2H2+O2
3. Na2CO3 → Na2O+CO2
All these reactions are breaking down of a single compound into different compounds.
Decomposition Reaction
This method is just negative of the combination method, which means combination of two
compounds to form single compounds in the form of A+B→AB
Let’s look some examples,
H2 + Cl2→ 2HCl
C + O2→ CO2
4Fe + 3O2→2Fe2O3
You can see that all the reaction are in the form of A+B→AB
Displacement Reaction
In this method an atom or an element is replaced by an atom or an element of an another
element. The reaction will be in the form of X+YZ→XZ+Y
Displacement Reactions are classified again into two,
1. Metal displacement,
2. Non-metal displacement.
Metal Displacement
Just like the word meaning displacing metals, In this type a metal present in a compound is
displaced by an another metal. Have a look at the example of metal displacement reaction
CuSO4+Zn "→ Cu+ZnSO4
Non-metal Displacement
In this type either a metal or a non-metal will displace another non-metal of a compound present
in the reaction. Hydrogen will be displaced in most cases but very rarely oxygen is also
displaced.
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Non-metal displacement
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Non-metal displacement
Disproportionate Reaction
A reaction in which the same species is both oxidized and reduced in a same reaction. This
reaction will only occur if any one of the element in the reaction is having all the three oxidation
states.
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Here you can see that oxygen is possessing all the three oxidation state in the reaction.
Balancing an equation
There are two methods to balance a redox reaction,
Oxidation Number Method of redox equation balancing involves these steps,
• Assign the oxidation number to all the elements present in the reaction and hence identify
the atoms that will undergo a change in oxidation number.
• Make the total ionic charges of reactant and product equal by adding H+ or OH– when the
reaction is taking place in water.
• Hydrogen atoms in the reaction are made equal by adding H2O molecule either to reactant
side or product side.
Half reaction method
The steps which include in the method are -
• Put the unbalanced equation in the ionic form for the given reaction.
• Divide the equations into half reactions: Oxidation half and reduction half
• For reactions occurring in acidic medium, add H2O to balance O atoms and H+ to balance
H atoms.
• Add the two half-reactions when the number of electrons exchanged is equal to form a
redox reaction.
External Links
CS Impact - www.cs-impact.org
Brainly - www.brainly.co
References
https://www.toppr.com/guides/chemistry/redox-reactions/
https://byjus.com/chemistry/balancing-redox-reaction/
https://socratic.org/questions/what-is-a-disproportionation-reaction-1